Virginia Beach: July 1st

     Brenna and Noah slept in until 10:00 am!  I couldn't believe it, but it just goes to show you what tired kids and closed blinds can accomplish.  So, we were out on the beach by 11:30 am.  We stayed until about 1:00 pm.  Brenna, Noah, and Andy spent the entire time in the water: jumping over waves, diving under waves, and playing in the water.  I came down to the edge of the water and played catch with a small nerf football with them.  We had a lot of fun together.  At 1:00 our hunger drove us upstairs to get ready for the day and find a place for lunch.  We had lunch at a place Andy had eaten at on 5th street.  We rented a 4 person bike to get around the boardwalk and to take us to lunch.  We had a rocky start on the bike, but worked it out.  I was a little nervous to let Noah drive, but once I calmed down and he learned to navigate the turns we had a great time and a deliciously tasty lunch.  Good job picking the place, honey.
     After lunch we rode the bikes around the boardwalk.  It was really fun and we saw a lot more of the boardwalk this way.  Then we had to turn in our bike and we walked on "beach street USA".  We found a tattoo place and the rest is history.  Brenna walked away with moon and stars, Noah --the Atlantic Falcon logo, Andy got a ninja shadow and I walked away with a PandA.  It took a while for them to do it, but we had a great time.  Afterwards we walked back to the hotel and went to the beach.  Again, it was laughing and playing in the waves.  I didn't go in; it was toooo cold and a little tooo rough.  Andy is such a good dad and went in anyway. 
     Finally, we returned to get ready for the Level 5-7 beach party on 17th street.  There we met up with the rest of the trampoline team.  Most of them had competed throughout the day, so it was fun to hear the stories and how they did.  It made me really excited for Brenna's turn tomorrow.  Then we ate a late dinner and hurried back to get Brenna in bed. 
     As I snuggled her tonight, she wanted me to sing a song that I used to sing to her when she was teeny tiny--my version of "You are my sunshine."  I told her to wake up happy and to remember that Daddy, her two brothers and I love her very, very much and that we are so proud of her.  I want so badly for her to do well for her, for her confidence.  But as I type this, I realize this is what every mother wants for their competitor. 

     Brenna, you are a fierce competitor when you want to be!  Tomorrow morning, when you compete, finish strong and stand tall.  You are a daughter of God and of parents who love you very much.  You can accomplish anything you set your mind to.  And breathe....

Brenna, good luck tomorrow!  We love you!

Virginia Beach: Wednesday, June 30th

These pictures were taken Wednesday morning. Before Brenna had training practice, they wanted to go walk on the beach.  I loved the idea of that.  They  had so much fun being chased by the waves.  I love to hear their laughter and complete sense of freedom.  They were so happy with just being together and playing with the water.  It was so fun to watch.  I love seeing my kids happy like this.

After the beach, it was time to get ready to go to the convetion center for training from 10:30-12:30pm.  I wanted to make sure that I got us there in plenty of time so we left about 10:00am.  I could see it from our hotel window, but I wasn't sure about parking and my way around.  It was a breeze and we were able to walk right in to staging where Miss Linda was.  She took Brenna back to get ready and I didn't see her again until I took these pictures.  She did an amazing job.  If she does this well during the competition, she should do well and at least be happy with her score.  She was very relaxed through it all.  She has seemed to be taking it in stride.  We were able to find Christina, Riley, and their parents.  It was nice to see familar faces in the crowds.

After practice, we went out to lunch at Pizza Planet with several of the families.  We had a great time and then seperated to freshen up for the Grand March-In at 5:00pm.  We went back to the convention center at 4:00 to make sure we got tickets and seats for the march-in.  Every team, over 1800 atheletes marched in to the convention hall.  It was a great moment, to be part of something bigger than yourself.  There were exhibitions by the Olympic hopefuls going to Singapore at the end of the month.

The logo for the 2010 National Championships.  If you look closely there are two girls flipping that are not a part of the poster. Crazy, right?

Waiting in line.  Brenna is the first one in the red jacket.

Miss Linda walks the team in to the arena!

On the way to eat dinner, Brenna and Noah were so happy to play in the sand.  They wrote their names, wrote messages, did cartwheels and played balancing games on the handles.  They had an absolute blast.  We stopped at a restaraunt on 18th street.  We shared chicken nachos, wings, and a caesar salad for our dinner.  It was really good.  And teh  best part was that during dinner, Andy called to say he had arrived in Virginia beach and was at our hotel.  The kids ran to meet him at the hotel and left me to pay the bill.  :)

The view as we were walking to dinner.  It was beautiful.

 

And this.....this is where Brenna will be competing on Friday, July 2nd.  If you look closely it says "Double-Mini 1" and "Double Mini 2"   Go Brenna!  Keep your fingers crossed for her. 

Tobin's birthday: 14!

     2010's June 29th, was not like it was 14 years ago, but it was a celebration of it! Noah, Brenna and I were heading down to Va. beach for Nationals and Dad and Tobin were packing to leave on Wednesday-June 30th-to go to quarterback/receiver camp in New Jersey! So, our only time together was going to be the morning to celebrate Tobin's birthday--which maybe the most appropriate as that was when he was born, early in the morning.

     I decided to get some of Tobin's friends together for a birthday breakfast as I wouldn't be able to be with him that evening. Now I know that most of Tobin's friends all sleep in very late and that this was going to be a sacrifice of getting up early, so I wanted to carefully select who we wanted! Of course, Colin, Tobin's best friend had to be there. And I liked the idea of Tobin celebrating with his cousin Brett, who is one year older than Tobin. And Tobin and Colin had just gone to camp with Bradley, who is a "cousin" through Aunt Leslie and they are all going to QO in the fall, so they were the perfect trifecta to celebrate with Tobin. So, I loved this group and they could all go! I wanted it to be a surprise for Tobin.
     Tobin got up early for swim team and woke up to our traditional celebration of leaving treats and balloons in their bedroom! Only this year, since he was a teenager, I thought it best to leave his treats by the door. :) When they were little (and still today), Andy and I want their first thought to be when they wake up that "It's my birthday!" And this morning practice was a great way to get Tobin out of the house, so I could go pick up his friends. I could tell at each stop that they were extremely sleepy. It was really fun having them for a little bit without Tobin. Bradley decided to text Tobin as we headed back to the house! It was funny for us as we knew we were going to celebrate with him in just a few minutes!
     Tobin was completely surprised as he headed up to jump in our car. Andy had picked up Tobin and met us at the house! Tobin was sooooo excited when he realized we were taking him to breakfast with friends. We went to the diner and had a great time! Tobin and his friends sat on one end, and we sat on the other. It was fun to see them talking and having fun.
     After breakfast we decided to take them to go see our new dog, Calle! What we didn't realize was how much of a dog person Brett was not. He had said, "sure, I'll go." He was such a good sport! While everyone else was oohhing and ahhhing over the puppies, Brett just watched and observed! Finally, Brenna just put a puppy in Brett's hands. I consider it an accomplishment that he didn't put it down right away. I think he would admit that it was kinda cute.
     Later on in the day, Bre, Noah and I left. And Tobin, Bradley and Brett went to see a movie and then out for ice cream. Tobin, I hope it was a happy birthday and that when you look back on this day, you think of the fun you had with us and with your besties! Thanks for being a great kid.

Morning birthday tradition

Tobin looking at his treats before going to swim practice.

Tobin, Colin, Brett, and Bradley

Tobin with his siblings--soooo cute!

The only cake/ice cream Tobin got for his birthday!  Boo Who.

Playing around

Facebook photo comments:

"Brett, holding a dog?!?!?!?!"

"It happened.  I'm a witness."

"I have a picture to prove it."

"Those boys, oops I mean puppies, are so cute!!"

Tobin loves all of the puppies.  They both have the bluest eyes!

Father's Day

Father's Day was something I had thought about for awhile!  I really did...and then it snuck up on me.  I wanted to get Andy the perfect gift...like always, but what was it?  And like always, I was never sure.  I did think of something pretty cool, but when I went shopping the Saturday before, I found out it must be a seasonal item.  Darn the luck.  It will be out in the fall and I will get them then....think football...think stands...think comfort...can you guess it?  With Tobin going to be playing JV football I thought that the highest compliment would be to get something to make those outings more memorable and comfortable!  Cushion chairs for the bleachers!  I thought it was great, only they weren't for sale anywhere.  So, I bummed out.  I also wanted to make these awesome treats from bakearella.com, but they were so time consuming, I really didn't have the time with our Saturday swim meet and activities.  They were "hamburgers" made out of brownines and cupcakes and "french fries" made out of sugar cookies.

We were in church on Father's Day talking with some of our friends.  I gues the gifts that children give must have come up into the conversation (Andy was wearing darling lapel pins with Noah and Brenna's face in them).  Our friends happened to mention that their son had given them a dog sometime recently and assured them that the dog had been fixed.  Apparently not so, and now they had 10 little puppies in a wood shed!  Andy looked at me and said, "Could we go look?"  Seriously, something fun to do for Father's Day?  Of course we could go!  But wait..., "No Dogs are coming home with us!  Is that understood?"
Andy sheepishly said, "OK."

I should have known.  One look and Andy, Tobin, Noah and Brenna were in love!  I was totally outnumbered. I knew the kids would fall in love with these little lab/Australian Heeler mix puppies, but I was unprepared for Andy's reaction.  Of course, they were only 3 weeks old and wobbly on their feet.  What wasn't to love?  He immediately was giving me looks over the children's heads, eyes pleading, smiling from ear to ear to which the kids quickly caught on.  What's a girl to do!  I said no as long as I could, but I am tired of always being bad cop with the kids.  They knew if we didn't get this dog, it was on me.  I gave in.  I'm such a sucker.  I know what's ahead, even if Andy refuses to admit it.  :)

So, welcome to the family, little Calle.  And Happy Father's Day, Andy.  You always wanted a 4th and now you have it; it just has 4 legs and a tail.  Calle is the black one with a little white on her chest.  We bring her home on August 1st when she will be 8 weeks old.

One other activity which we did to celebrate Andy was really kind of an experiment.  We used a literary technique I learned about a few years ago, but really like.  We all had to write 6 words (not just synonyms, but a sentence) about Andy.  So that Andy wasn't just sitting there, he decided to do the same thing.  I think it was hardest on Brenna, who wasn't quite old enough, but it was really fun.  I thought it was a great exercise to celebrate Andy.

Tobin did several:

1.  You can say jokes around me.

2.  We always got subs from WaWa.

3.  I get to hear coaches talk.

4.  I like hanging out with you.

5.  You're not embarassing at any time.

6.  You can get down at Bar Mitzvahs.

Noah's were a little more pragmatice:

1.  We're both a wide  receiver in football.

2.  I'm good tecnologically.  He's good technologically.

Brenna's:

1.  I love Daddy because he's spazy.

2.  My daddy makes memories with me.

Paige's:

1.  You bring laughter into our home.

2.  Makes decisions based on kids' interest.

3.  Loves effortlessly, lives deeply, laughs always.

4.  Thanks for teaching me to love.

5.  I love you to the moon....

Andy wrote one to each of us individually.

To Paige
    
1.  Ninety-eight percent of anything is good.

2.  Yellowish, radioactive spider, utility belt.

To Tobin:

1.  Make me laugh til I stop.

2.  Yeah, I know, you get me!

To Noah:

1.  There when I need you most.

2.  Remember junior, that was once me.

To Brenna:

1.  Older but smaller, Daddy's little girl.

2.  Come home, find me, hug me!!

Noah's Hannah Montana moment

Noah got to live the best of both worlds this weekend!  On Friday night he had a birthday party to go to of one of his very good friends.  He was really excited to go and was esctatic when he found out it was a ice skating party.  (Noah thinks he wants to play ice hockey--Al, I know this makes you jump in the air).  Anyway, the drop-off for the party was a pizza joint in our neighborhood.  I had a quick glancing thought about how Daniel's dad was going to get everyone to the hockey arena, but like I said, it only skimmed through my mind.  So, at the end of the night, the pick up was back at the pizza place.  I was sooo happy not to have to be going out of the neighbhorhood!  I was on the phone talking to someone, I think it was Steve, when I saw a huge stretch limo pull up and I thought "no way, that can't be Noah."  And then the door opened, and my second thought was, "Holy shiz.....that is Noah's ride," as the kids started pouring out of the limo!  Noah stepped out and made a huge exit, shouting, "LIMO!".  He gave the limo driver a hi-five and showed so much excitement for his ride, that I couldn't help but laugh.  Noah came up to me and said, "Mom, have you ever ridden in a limo?" 
"No, That is not something I have done yet.  I will though....:)"
It was all Noah talked about on the way home.

On Saturday, Noah had a 5th grade graduation party to go to.  It last 5 hours!  It had a moonbounce, waterslide, funnel cakes, dancing, and Carmen's Italian ice!  He declared it was the best party ever!  I couldn't believe how much these parents had done to celebrate the end of elementary school.  I was really happy for Noah to be a part of it. 

On Sunday, Noah told me he was bored! What's a boy to do?  It's hard coming off of the good life.